U. N. Peacekeepers Ran Child Sex Ring in Haiti

As if Haiti doesn't have enough problems, the people who are there representing law and order are abusing the children of Haiti. What is the solution? The Haitians will need to find a resolution.

Since I am writing articles about Haiti, and referencing this blog, I need to update the information here. I have not been in Haiti for too many years. My contact with Haitians have been here in the USA. More than 1.5 Haitians live in the USA. Those of my generation remain Haitians in mindset and culture. They struggle with the reality that their children grow up as Americans with no idea what it really means to be Haitian.

Haitian culture is unique and is difficult to understand. Many Americans have thought they understood the Haitian culture, only to be left in total shock and disbelief when they suddenly realized that appearances are deceptive.

Haitian culture is enegmatic. Intentionally. It flows from the development of Creole as a language. The language was developed first of all for the Haitian slaves to communicate with each other. They had been captured from many different tribes in Africa. The average lifespan as an adult male slave in the Haitian sugar cane plantations was four years. Therefore, the turnover was incredible. It was cheaper for the plantation owners to keep buying new slaves than to treat their slaves "humanely"!

So, the slaves developed Creole to communicate with each other. The second reason for Creole set the stage for Haitian culture: they needed to speak to each other in the presence of the slavemasters without being understood by the slavemasters! This is a crucial point to try to grasp. Haitians, though among the friendliest and most charming people on earth, do not want to be understood by outsiders (blan yo).

Haitian culture is also a culture of survival. Life in Haiti is hard, difficult, and miserable. Haitians refer to their lives as la misè (the misery). The statistics that are frequently quoted say that 7 of 10 children die in Haiti before the age of 5. It is quite possible that the statistics are worse since the earthquakes and the devastation that has followed the earthquakes in Haiti. Although the average lifespan of Haitians is quite short, that is because the high mortality rate of children brings down the average significantly. Most Haitians live long lives, simply because of this: If they can survive to age 5, their bodies and immune systems must have sufficiently developed to survive the hardships of Haiti that they will be able to overcome most diseases. The immune systems of most Haitians are so strong that a Haitian can be a carrier of diseases that will kill visitors if they contract it from the carrier.

Haitian culture is also a culture of imitation. Haitians imitate and integrate ideas, words and concepts from other cultures almost without thinking. It is almost (almost) as if Haiti has no soul of its own, but appropriates bits of the souls of other cultures.

Haitian culture is animistic. Animism is the worldview that non-human entities, including animals, plants, and often even inanimate objects or phenomena, possess a spiritual essence. And, the Haitians believe very strongly in the spirit world. They believe in loa: spirit beings.

So, to understand Haitians (if that is possible), one must begin from an understanding that Haitian culture is enigmatic, survivalistic, imitating and animistic. And, this still does not tell us everything we need to know, because, after all, they are enigmatic: they do not want outsiders to understand them.

But, they are the most lovable people I've ever met. Charming. Intelligent. Resourceful. Wise. And, given the opportunity, they are very hard working. But never forget to respect them. If you treat a Haitian as a servant, you will have earned their contempt.

I'm not sure what the answer is

I love Haiti but I have come to the conclusion that the only solution for Haiti's problems will have to be found and implemented by the Haitiens themselves.

Our Objective

This fall I will be returning to Haiti after an absence of nine years. The plan is to stay in country for 6 months. I will be working on leadership training, especially with young adults.

If there is ever going to be a change in Haiti, there will have to be a revolution in the mindset of Haitians. Part of the problem is that Haitians do not teach each other, especially in the of changing the worldview.

I know Haitians who have broken free of the bondage of the Haitian mindset, but they don't teach other Haitians. I'm seeking ways to teach young Haitians a different way of viewing the world, and to teach their peers what they learn.

The Haitian mindset is very complex. It is enigmatic. Haitians really do not WANT to be understood. They can convince you they desire the same agenda as yours while secretly continuing on with their own agenda. The enigmatic aspect flows from the slavery days. Creole developed as a way to communicate without being understood by their overlords.

The Haitian mindset is a survival mentality. They are very locked in the moment, trying to survive.

The Haitian mindset is a present tense mentality. Everything future is "Si BonDye vle" .. If God wills it. While there is a strong fatalism in this mentality, they are surprisingly optimistic. Haiti has the lowest suicide rate in the Western Hemisphere!

More next time on the Haitian worldview / mindset.

Breaking strongholds

The Haitian culture is very, very traditional. The status quo is authoritative in the Haitian mind. However the parents did things is the way things must be done. Critical thinking is not taught in Haitian schools or society. The teaching method in the schools is rote: memorize answers for questions. Therefore, there is little or no ability to apply the answers to other situations.

What is amazing is how quickly they adapt to the American lifestyle when they come here. The human spirit is very adaptable when circumstances require change.

Peru asks Security Council to prolong UN Haiti force

Peru asks Security Council to prolong UN Haiti force

It is so very sad .. Haiti still needs outside help and supervision to keep the peace and stand on its feet at all. There are so many cultural/social issues which contribute to why Haiti cannot move ahead.

There is the social system .. class divisions between nouristas (blacks) and mulattoes; divisions by economic status; and a clan system. When you have a culture that is based in survival, then the focus is upon survival for yourself and your family .. it is an extended family system in Haiti .. it includes all the cousins too. And, it is worse to not share your food and wealth with your family than to have a mistress or an affair, in the Haitian culture. With this clan system, there is no real national identity. It is "every man for himself".

This is acted out by ever person who gets the power in Haiti .. every President of Haiti has used the office as a means of enriching himself and his family. And, so, the chaos continues.

Haitians RESENT outside interference .. one shouldn't have any problem understanding that. But, without a national identity, and a culture of survival, they cannot protect the poor and the weak .. or, will not because it isn't in their cultural psyche.

Ah, Haiti .. how we love it and how we hurt for their ongoing pain. Only God can bring true deliverance to them.

Cap Haitian - Cathedral

The domed cathedral in Cap Haitien.

Laundry Day

Haitians frequently grow a cactus fence around their house, and then use that to dry their laundry.

Haiti Map2

This is a basic map of Haiti .. it will give you some perspective on where the towns and cities are in Haiti. However, many places I reference are not on this map.

Haiti Map 1

This map of Haiti shows the proximity of Haiti to the USA .. Haiti is located about 600 miles South West from Miami, Florida. And, it is about 60 miles from the tip of Haiti to Cuba. On a clear night, lights from Cuba can be seen from the northwest coast of Haiti. People everywhere just want to be free!

Church Building Construction

This is a church building under construction just outside of Port-au-Prince. It will also serve as a school. Construction methods in Haiti interest me .. they have to do a lot with very little.

Haitian School Building

This is the school building in Grison Garde, out in the northern plain of north Haiti. It really is just a pavilion covered by corrugated tin. I think there were four classes housed in this pavilion that day, each class reciting next to the others. They build this way because it is all they can afford, and it allows the breeze to blow through. On days when it rains, there is no school anyway, because the mud gets too bad to walk to school.